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3 Sheets-Sheet 1 GOMER. UAR AXLE BOX.

(No Model.)

No. 372,905. Patented Nov. 8; 1887.

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(No Model.) 3 sheets -she'et 3.

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GAR AXLE BOX. No. 372,905. Patented Nov. 8, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES GOMER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ON E-HALF TO CHARLES M. ZEH, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,905, dated November 8, 1887.

Serial No. 229,653. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES GOMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improveinents in J ournal-Bearings for Rail and Tram Way Car Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to reduce th friction produced by the journal-bearings of a railway or tramway car, to increase'the durability of said bearings, and to facilitate manipulation of and access to the working parts.

The invention consists in the improvedjournal-box and in the arrangements and combinations of parts thereof, substantially as will be hereinafter set forth, and finally be embodied in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, embraced in three sheets, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts in each of the figures, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a front elevation of a journal-box having the front plate removed to show the interior parts. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a side elevation of the same with said front plate in place. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken through line as, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4, Sheet 3, is a detail view of a certain frame provided with rollers within which the car-axle revolves. V In said drawings, A indicates the frame or hanger, adapted to be secured to the body of the car, and which may be of any form or construction suitable to support the bearings for thejournal.

D is a journal-box which slides vertically in said frame or hanger,and is provided with flanges B B, which provide bearings, extending laterally and oppositely from the lower portion thereof, adapted to receive springs E E, on which the weight of the car or vehicle will be supported and cushioned when any sudden jar is occasioned. The said box D works 50 in the slot or opening marked 0, and is prevented from moving laterally in either direction by means of the hanger. The inner bearing-surface, F, of the portion D is convex in a direction parallel with the line of the journal, to provide or allow a rocking motion and prevent binding when the car is turning upon a curved track, and thus easing the strain on the journal.

Between the journal G and bearing-surface F is interposed a sleeve or collar, H, and within the latter anti-friction rollers I. Said rollers are preferably arranged in the manner indicated in Fig. 4, where the outer series of rollers are shown to be of alternating longer and shorter rollers and the middle rollers of the series overlap the longer rolls of the se-. ries at the sides or ends. In this manner the ends of the'rolls do not terminate in a line, and thus, when in operation, the rollers are prevented from forming on the periphery of the journal ridges corresponding with the ends of the rollers, as will be understood. To allow the above arrangement the frame J consists of plain outer rings, 1 I, and irregular inner rings, 1" I, which latter have alternating recesses or sockets to receive the projecting rollers. Said rings I I are heldv together in any suitable manner and provide suitable bearings for the said rollers. It will beobserved that the rollers are not set longitudinally in line in the frame, but are set so that one roll is slightly in advance of the next one laterally adjacent. Thus a roller is always fairly above the highest point of the journal, thereby preventing the journal from hearing hard between the rollers, and .thus producing a considerable lateral pressure of the rollers on their bearings, tending to enlarge said bearings and give undue play to the said rollers. The journalopening-through the box D being annular, and the sides thereof being convex, asdescribed, I am enabled to use the simple tubular sleeve or collar H, the sides of which are straight. This construction, while allowing a rocking motion in any direction, prevents jamming, as described, and is of easy construction and inexpensive.

The journal G may be provided with a shoulder or with a washer, K, by means of which dust or dirt is prevented from working its way into the journal-box. Said journal-box may also be provided with a longitudinallyadjustable end bearing adapted to prevent longitudinal movement of the axle and the disagreeable lurching of the car occasioned by such movement. Said end bearing consists of a threaded and thus adjustable anti-frictionbearing holder, l\I,which passes through the cap L of the box and is held therein bya locknut, O. Said holder is provided at its inner end with a suitable flange, I, and a ball-holder, Q, adapted to hold said balls (marked U) in place, and yet allow them to work freely between the said flange and the end of thejonrnal.

The advantage in having the anti-frictionbearing holder adjustable is that said bearings may be brought into proper relation with journals of any desired length by simply loosening the lock-nut and screwing up or unscrewing the holder, and the journal may be held with great nicety. This construction also provides for wear on the journal balls and flange, enabling the same to be taken up.

I am aware that car axle boxes have been provided with rocking bearings, and I do not claim the same, broadly. In the improved device the inner walls of the box itself are convexed, and a straight tubular sleeve or ring bears against the convex surface and surrounds the frame, provided with rollers, holding the latter in their bearings and preventing undue vertical motion of the axle in the box.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a journal-bearing, a frame or hanger, a box having an annular opening, the walls of which are convex, as at F, a tubular sleeve or ring, and a frame provided with anti-friction rollers, said parts being arranged and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In ajournal-bearing, the combination of a box, D, a cap, as L, a bearing-holder, M, having a flange, P, and ad justably secured to said cap, a lock-nut, O, a ball-holder, Q, and balls arranged between the end of the journal and said flange, said parts being arranged and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a'journal-bearing, a frame provided with anti-friction rollers the ends of which overlap, substantially as shown and described, for the purposes stated.

4. In ajournal-bearing, the frame consisting, essentially, of straight outer rings, as I, irregular inner rings, as I, and rollers of varying lengths, all said parts being arranged and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of January, 1887.

CHARLES GOMER.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL, OSCAR A. MIoHEL. 

